In deep trouble, just lookin for experiences...

[Rictor33]

This weekend I really fucked up bad... I was arguing with my ex, fighting with my friends and just having a shitty saturday night. So I took a few shots, told everyone to **** themselves and got behind the wheel (I was not wasted). I took off, going 125 mph down the highway, where some unsuspecting state troopers got me. I refused to take a breathalyzer because I was not sure what I would blow, they gave me a field test, but the whole flashlight in the eyes in the middle of the night didn't bode well for me.. So they told me I failed the field test. They arrested me and charged me with dui and refusing breath along with the 120 mph speeding ticket. I went in to see my lawyer 2 days later and to my total displeasure, there was a newspaper article about me in the county paper, about 3 paragraphs with all my info on it... It looks like the DA might try to throw the book at me, and I can't see why. I am a 25 year old guy who is just starting out working and starting to stand on his own two feet, I work in a job that requires me to drive EVERYWHERE... I have no prior criminal record except some trespassing bullshit when I was 17. My lawyer said we could plead down to a dwai which isnt a misdemeanor and try to coax the cop to bring down the speed... Has anyone else had a similar experience to this with dui (not speeding) and what results did you have? I am so embarassed....

 

[anewstart]

You can't see why the d.a. will throw the book at you? 17,000 road deaths in the u.s.a. because of drink driving is a start.

 

[-2z-]

Sorry to hear that bro.
I was thinking one day about what benefits alcohol had. No real good ones came up, so I really don't drink anymore...and everyday I see another reason not to. It just doesn't help me get to my goals...that's all.

Best to you, man. Hope this turns out ok for you.

 

[revodrew]

You can't see why the d.a. will throw the book at you? 17,000 road deaths in the u.s.a. because of drink driving is a start.

I agree. Now, if you have a good lawyer they can get the term of your suspension knocked down. My brother got a dui and lost it for 9 months. Shitty lawyer. My friend got one, lost it for 6 weeks. Good lawyer makes a huge differance. Here is the shitty part. My buddy was a prior offender, my brother first time for a ticket or anything. Figure that **** out. Now, you were doing 125 which is totally stupid unless you are 17 and just got your L's. You not only made a dumb choice to get behind the wheel intoxicated but then refused the test. Nobody ever told you that if you dont take it you are automatically guilty? That was on my state test. Anyways, if your lawyer doesnt think he can do **** for you, get another one. There are ones out there that can.

 

[delta314]

You should thank the Lord that you didn't kill somone. Take your punishment like a man and learn from your mistake. I give no breaks to people who drive under the influence. I've seen to many alcohol related accidents that resulted in needless deaths.

 

[max-rot98]

:goodpost:
A dui is one thing. But the 125mph is just absolutely ridiculous. Sounds like you got what you deserved. Ironic how life works. But in any case its over and you didn't hurt anyone including yourself. A good lawyer CAN DEFINATELY get you out of it and at most you will only be able to drive for work. Sucks but that is the price you pay. Sorry if I sound like an ass but I almost lost a good friend to drunk driving. Everyone makes mistakes but when you go out driving wrecklessly like you and my friend after drinking you are asking to hurt someone.

 

[Rictor33]

there was no one on the road.... and I was not drunk enough to be a danger to anyone... It's not automatically pleading guilty to dwi if you refuse, it's a seperate charge for refusing. There is NO CONCRETE PROOF that I was drunk. Simple and plain, I lose everything if I get convicted.. If they don't plead it down to ai then we go to trial quite possibly for a long time.. I have the means to really run the system ragged and if they make this difficult I intend to spend whatever it takes to make this as frustrating as I can for them if they choose to make an example out of me... I have way too much to lose and I've already lost plenty of face with the article...

 

[glenihan]

depends on the state .. in certain states refusal is PROOF of intoxication

and if you were traveling at 125mph .. how do you know there wasn't anyone 5 miles down the road? .. at that speed you would go 5 miles in under 2 minutes and it would take you QUITE some time to slow down

 

[400runner]

no one ever thinks there drunk. im not saying you were, but thats what everyone says. (put your self in the cops shoes) im sure, if you have a good lawyer, it can all be worked out. good luck to you bro.

 

[TheUnlikelyToad]

I hate stories like this, it makes me sick.

All in all, you are probably a decent guy too.

 

[B5150]

From my experience with these matters you are facing a few things, depending upon your state.

Non-Consent: Refusing breath-alizer. I year manditory suspension of driving priviliges.

DUI: Depending upon the BAC (in your case there was none...hence the mandatory suspension) you will face a mandatory minimum fine, possible jail time, substance abuse programming. Very likely a 3-5 years probation. A possible mandatorty ignition interlock device.

I am a recovering sober alcoholic who has been through the system. The states and federal government are becoming unified with their tolerance and punishment. Drinking and driving is one of, if not the, most irresponsible behaviors taking place on the roads today. I was guilty and punished accordingly. Thank God no one was hurt. Thank God I got sober.

 

[B5150]

BTW: The more you spend on a lawyer will not improve your results. They also make promises that they are not empowered to deliver. The states and government (Stipulations of Federal Highway Funding Programs) have put mandatory minimums in place. The sentencing is usually not 'negotiable'.

 

[Cuffs]

there was no one on the road.... and I was not drunk enough to be a danger to anyone... It's not automatically pleading guilty to dwi if you refuse, it's a seperate charge for refusing. There is NO CONCRETE PROOF that I was drunk. Simple and plain, I lose everything if I get convicted.. If they don't plead it down to ai then we go to trial quite possibly for a long time.. I have the means to really run the system ragged and if they make this difficult I intend to spend whatever it takes to make this as frustrating as I can for them if they choose to make an example out of me... I have way too much to lose and I've already lost plenty of face with the article...

I was going to say something to the others about telling you how stupid you were and so on, because I was sure you already knew that and was looking for advice. However, after reading the first portion of this statement, I'm not sure that you do know what you did was completely idiotic and looked down upon in the American society. "There was no one on the road"??? who are you to say there wasn't anyone driving from another direction. Also, who gives a ****, YOU were! You don't need to be drunk enough to be a danger, just impaired to a certain degree, which it sounds like you were. In Ca., I would have forced a blood draw from you and really fucked your chances. I'm only saying this because I have had to literally scrape flesh from the pavement with a shovel due to an act of stupidity as you have laid out. The one good thing that came out of it is the fact no one did get hurt or killed. Otherwise, you would have bigger problems

Now, what you need to do is forget any court appointed attorney and get yourself a good DUI trial lawyer. Go do some consultations with several before deciding on one. In Ca., just the mere fact of driving over 100mph would hit you with a felony charge. Not sure in your state.

I know it's going to be hard to believe, but I mean no disrepect by this post. I'd say the same thing to a close friend or family member. I do wish you best of luck with your outcome.

 

[Sunder]

there was no one on the road....

I believe there was a cop on the road.
Regardless, I do not think the laws change depending on how many people are on the road that day.

and I was not drunk enough to be a danger to anyone...

You didn't take the breath test because you thought you would fail, yet you still "think" you were not drunk enough to be a danger to anyone? I'm sure you "thought" you wouldn't get caught also. This is the reason why officers don't take a drunk's word on whether or not they are drunk.

You're in denial bigtime here. You may be a great guy, etc, and this could have been the very first time you ever drank alcohol - BUT with the number of needless deaths due to drunk drivers makes this a very serious offence.

No matter how it turns out, I think you got off lucky because you didn't kill anyone. If you can learn from your lesson, I do hope things work out good for you.

 

[motiv8er]

Rictor
What happened to you sucks. You are lucky thats all that happened. I think we go through these experiences so we don't make them again. Hopefully. Get a descent lawyer. Be prepared to take your turn on getting it good in the system, you've earned it. What you did was reckless, and very human. Time to pay the piper and get on with life. No point in fearing the future, it will happen anyway you look at it. Time to spend some money you'd like to save.

Stay positive. Invest yourself in yourself. And thank God it wasn't my family you killed.

 

[BigVrunga]

Usually a big scare like this is enough to change someone...I got pulled over doing 110Mph about 10 years ago. Ever since then I have had no desire to speed whatsoever.

Doing anything stupid on the highway like that is just a terrible lapse in judgement. If you have no prior offenses, and you pay money for a really good lawyer, you may get on alright. Maybe just probation and a suspended license...

BV

 

[glenihan]

oh and i forgot to mention

there IS concrete proof you were drunk .. you failed a field test

 

[Cuffs]

oh and i forgot to mention

there IS concrete proof you were drunk .. you failed a field test

They can also go off the officers observations and expert opinion in court, as to the persons state of impairment/intoxication.

 

[Bigdaddyandy]

I got a dui in '99, actually glad I got it. Slowed my dumb ass down a little bit.
I did not hire a lawyer, I just waited until it was my turn. The prosecutor ran down the list of charges, the judge asked me "How do you plead
Mr. #%^$?". I kind of grinned and asked "What are the odds of getting this reduced to reckless driving?". The judge laughed and said "Slim to none, Mr.@##!.". I then flashed my patented **** eating grin and said
"Well in that case guilty as charged your honor, what can I say I screwed up royally and hell,I'm glad I got arrested before anyone got hurt or killed.".
The judge then took it relatively easy on me, granted I still had to pay about 3k in fines and costs. But that is what the judge has to give you as a minimum. Where he really let me slide was the community service I got away with 60 hours. A bitchy lady before me got 500.
They did'nt even push after the speeding violation of 105mph on the spur(the spur is a narrow mountain highway in Gatlinburg tennessee, that usually claims a few lives each year. It actually took one my female friends last year)

After the court I had to report to my probation officer in the courthouse lobby. I guess it was all dui cases that
day. I went last because of my last name, and aparently everyone ahead of me was rude as hell to this poor lady.
I talked with her for probably 45 minutes and was very nice and kind of flirting with her. Then my ride showed up and I handed her my license and she said "don't worry about it". "But Judge Rader told me to give it to you", I said. She then looks at me like I'm a complete dumbass and says "Don't worry about it". It sunk in after that that, I got to keep my license. I had a cop friend of mine run my DL numbers through the D.O.T. Once a week for 3 months. My probation officer never turned in my license revocation. According to the D.O.T. I never had a dui.
But I learned my lesson.

Moral of the story:
When you go to court, fall on the sword, admit you screwed up,swallow that bitter-ass pride. And most importantly be nice to EVERYBODY.
The perspective is different when your livelyhood is in someone else's hands.
Unless the judge is a complete prick,you might be ok.

 

[Apowerz6]

:clap2: That was one of the best posts I have ever read !!! I dont have dui exp. but I have had my day with the law, and the judge and let me tell you admittance to wrong will get you a long way...

 

[diamonddave]

Showing sincerity and some shame certainly couldn't hurt, but 1999 was awhile ago and I think the attitude towards this type of charge has stiffened to a point of little flexibility. Alchohol and 120+ mph will not be something many judges will play down nowadays because of some humility and a smile.
I don't think you should use the "no one else was on the road" story in court. You obviously didn't see the cop, there could have been others.
Good Luck!

 

[Rictor33]

its a big 3 lane highway.. He was in the middle of the two N/S in a turnaround covered by trees... It's simple either they take my plea to make it a dwai or I fight the charges... I think with the **** I can pull and the hell I can make this that they should take the plea for dwai.. Otherwise.. I didn't take the breathalyzer cuz of acid reflux (proven to cause inaccurate readings) and I was tired, just did squats, have verylight sensitive eyes and was nervous. I was not tested in the precinct where an accurate test with proper lighting could have been administered, and I was never offerred a urine or blood test.. So there you go.. My face was flushed because I was upset and had being going through alot up to that point in the last week. My lawyer is going to check with the d.a. whom he knows for a preview of exactly what they are going to try to do to me.. If I have to I will hire a team to beat this ****.. I am humiliated and embarassed.. My character has taken a serious shot and I am not happy about it..

 

[refrieddreams]

Damn...Iam not going to judge you. I just was told once...if you have a warrant you make sure you signal, don't speed, stop at all stop signs completely and your brake lights work.

Just a reason to get pulled over...125? Come on man that is stupid sober...

 

[B5150]

I am humiliated and embarassed.. My character has taken a serious shot and I am not happy about it..

Your pride is humiliated and embarrased. Your character is demonstrated by how you respond to the consequences of your action. Convicted or not, you are guilty. For some, the blessings of a lifetime come in the most unfortunate events. Others...well, it's in your hands. Good luck.

 

[mp5man1]

Your pride is humiliated and embarrased. Your character is demonstrated by how you respond to the consequences of your action. Convicted or not, you are guilty. For some, the blessings of a lifetime come in the most unfortunate events. Others...well, it's in your hands. Good luck.

Very true. Good post

 

[GRosk1234]

Let me start off by saying good luck to you. Now I just have to post this cuz I can't get it off my mind.

Reading this story just brings back some of my worst memories. My father owns a towing and recovery company and I've seen all types walk into his shop for your exact charge. I've also heard the stories of those who weren't able to come in the next day as well. There was no one else on the road when a guy took his Chevy Monte Carlo through a ditch, over a mailbox, and wrapped it around a tree at 115. I got to be the guy who let the family in to the car to collect the belongings. Nothing like seeing a family (the man's father and his young wife) open Christmas gifts December 24 in my dad's lot...

Be thankful that wasn't you. Take time to reflect on your actions and the potential consequences. These officers know what they are doing and so does the DA. They also realize you are human. We do have a system of laws, I'm sure someone can help you manipulate it. Take care of yourself and best of luck...

 

[BigCasino]

its a big 3 lane highway.. He was in the middle of the two N/S in a turnaround covered by trees... It's simple either they take my plea to make it a dwai or I fight the charges... I think with the **** I can pull and the hell I can make this that they should take the plea for dwai.. Otherwise.. I didn't take the breathalyzer cuz of acid reflux (proven to cause inaccurate readings) and I was tired, just did squats, have verylight sensitive eyes and was nervous. I was not tested in the precinct where an accurate test with proper lighting could have been administered, and I was never offerred a urine or blood test.. So there you go.. My face was flushed because I was upset and had being going through alot up to that point in the last week. My lawyer is going to check with the d.a. whom he knows for a preview of exactly what they are going to try to do to me.. If I have to I will hire a team to beat this ****.. I am humiliated and embarassed.. My character has taken a serious shot and I am not happy about it..

I realize your initial post / topic was just about wanting to hear other peoples experiences, but it sure sounds like you made up your mind on all accounts already.

I don't know what your BAC was, maybe it was over, maybe it was under, but they did get you for going 125mph. I can see you are upset about the article in the paper, and the DUI you feel you did not deserve, but that 125mph is real, and I just get this vibe from your posts that you think you did nothing wrong. I mean I your first post seemed to at least acknowlege that, but every post you have made since then seems to be about this great injustice against you and how you are going to pony up a top notch lawyer team, etc.

As everyone else said, you are probably a great guy, and who knows maybe you never drink & drive, maybe you never normally speed. That being said all this **** did not just come out of thin air, you did do something wrong. It is not the end of the world though


EDIT:

Alright I am going to include a little DUI story about one of my friends that happened just last weekend. Rightfully so the overall tone of this thread is pretty serious, but this story is a little entertaing / funny for a DUI story. So there was this huge Lingerie party last weekend to celebrate the end of a kickass winterbreak, and the begining of a new quarter / semester.

Well thankfully girls are really the only ones dressing up (hehe should be dressing down) for this party and there are a ton of people, lots of good booze, pretty sweet house in Newport Beach, etc, just overall a good time. Well I was a designated driver for a couple of friends, and one of my other friends was the designated driver for a car full of her roomates. Since we were both DDs we were chillin just about the whole evening, and since I saw her pretty much the whole time I know for a fact she only had one beer when we first arrived. Keep in mind this was at 10:30PM and we all took off around 2:30A. One beer, plenty of time to clear her system as she was drinking water during the evening too. Well we are driving back and she does not know the area as well as I do, yet she is driving in front of me.

Well she realized at the last second (probably distracted by the car full of drunk girls she was driving) that she was going to miss the freeway on ramp, so she quickly changed lanes. Well unfortunately a CHP was lurking off to the side, and pulled her over. Keep in mind ALL these girls are in nothing but bras and panties. I pull over and keep my distance watching. I believe since the office looked inside and saw a bunch of obviously drunk girls he breathalized my friend that was driving. Her BAC shows up as .808 she says. BOOM! DUI time. Again, keep in mind that this is on the side of the road near a freeway on ramp, he makes ALL the girls get out of the car, they are all in their bra & panties on the side of the road. I felt bad for her, she had to go spend the night in jail. It was pretty damn funny seeing all those girls out on the road like that, people driving by were honking and such, I could tell the CHP was getting pissed and before long a second car showed up, I guess to discourage anymore vocal passer-bys. I'm still not sure how her BAC was .808, only thing I could think of is that she is super tiny, semi-tall, but thin as a rail, so maybe for her size she had just a enough. Strange though she was drinking water all night. Anyways, she has about $5,000 she has spent on this issue overall so far, including the lawyer, hopefully it works out ok for her. Just thought you guys would enjoy the story of scantily clad broads roadside.

 

[Sunder]

its a big 3 lane highway..

Good point. If it were a small 1 lane highway, it would be illegal. But since it was 3 lanes...

I didn't take the breathalyzer cuz of acid reflux (proven to cause inaccurate readings) and I was tired, just did squats, have verylight sensitive eyes and was nervous.
My face was flushed because I was upset and had being going through alot up to that point in the last week.

You shouldn't be on the road if you were tired.

Just did squats??? Is this before or after the shots you took? Who drinks and works out?

Light sensitive eyes? WTF?

I'd be nervous too if I was drunk and driving at that speed.

What is with all these excuses? It sounds like you have no remorse and refuse to take any responisibility for your actions. You're just digging yourself a hole here. If this is the attitude you have, then I suggest getting OJ's lawyer, cuz you're going to need him.

My character has taken a serious shot and I am not happy about it..

I don't think your character has been misrepresented at all.

 

[delta314]

No one here wants to see you hang for this. You are a young man who made a mistake. Not the worst mistake in the world (due to no-one getting hurt or killed), but not a mistake that should be taken lightly by you or the courts. You say your character has taken a shot and you're not happy about it. Too bad. Get your team of lawyers and spend the 2-5 thousand dollars it's going to cost and get the charges lowered. Then you can drive away with your "I beat the system" attitude, and next time you and your friends are fighting, and your girlfriend is mad at you, you'll do the same thing because you know how to beat the system. But maybe the next time you wont be so lucky. There might not be a Trooper in the median to pull you over. By the time the Police get there, they might just find you sitting on the side of the road bleeding, crying like a baby because the people you just hit are laying in the street dead, or dying, and all you can do is listen to them crying and dying. Or it might be you the ME that gets first shot at. I didn't judge you in my first post, I gave you advice. After your last post, I'm starting to judge. Get a good lawyer. Loose the attitude. Humble yourself and get through this. If you do not learn from your mistakes, you will be destined to repeat them.

 

[toughchick401]

I read all your posts, and I am sitting here pissed off .......What gives you the right to break the law, and than have this enormous attuide, you should be taking whatever plea they give you, own up like a man to your stupidness, and THANK GOD that you didnt kill someone while acting like an ass!

If anyone of your excuses work, then I am sad and disgusted by our justice system.

One of my students this yr is a little ,3 yr old girl, can';t walk, can't talk, can't even feed herself anymore because some ass driving drunk HIT HER MOM"S CAR, and she was in her car seat SLEEPING, wrong place wrong time. I think of your story and I get sick.

 

[Rictor33]

Good point. If it were a small 1 lane highway, it would be illegal. But since it was 3 lanes...



You shouldn't be on the road if you were tired.

Just did squats??? Is this before or after the shots you took? Who drinks and works out?

Light sensitive eyes? WTF?

I'd be nervous too if I was drunk and driving at that speed.

What is with all these excuses? It sounds like you have no remorse and refuse to take any responisibility for your actions. You're just digging yourself a hole here. If this is the attitude you have, then I suggest getting OJ's lawyer, cuz you're going to need him.



I don't think your character has been misrepresented at all.

OJ's lawyer is dead smarty pants... Do me a favor. I asked for experiences and told you all how I was going to fight it if the DA didn't plead it down... If you want to talk tough to me and give me a hard time don't post in my thread, your starting **** with me and I don't appreciate it.. thanks

 

[Rictor33]

I read all your posts, and I am sitting here pissed off .......What gives you the right to break the law, and than have this enormous attuide, you should be taking whatever plea they give you, own up like a man to your stupidness, and THANK GOD that you didnt kill someone while acting like an ass!

If anyone of your excuses work, then I am sad and disgusted by our justice system.

One of my students this yr is a little ,3 yr old girl, can';t walk, can't talk, can't even feed herself anymore because some ass driving drunk HIT HER MOM"S CAR, and she was in her car seat SLEEPING, wrong place wrong time. I think of your story and I get sick.

Look I know all these hypothetical situations make all of you very angry @ drunk drivers, but... It was not me and therefore I do not appreciate you all taking shots at me for an honest mistake.. All I am saying is I have alot to lose and I have the means to get out of this including connections to the best lawyers out there. I am speaking about how I am going to fight it, it's not that I am not claiming responsbility for my stupidity at the time... My extended family is falling apart, my grandmother died, my gf left me, my dog has cancer, I mean it's not like I was just like woohoo let me get behind the wheel and see how fast I can go...

 

[B5150]

It has become obvious that this is an issue that some are passionate about. You have every right to use whatever resources within your means to defend yourself. I would do the same. Claiming responsibility is a good place to start becoming aware of your irresponsible behavior. There are explainations for it, but really no excuses. I have a million reasons i could recite to you why I drank and drove so for many years...not to mention nearly killing myself with alcohol and drugs. i can explain my reasoning, but there are no excuses that make it acceptable. Excuse means to pardon it. Awareness of the depth of my behaviors did not hit me for many years. It still dawns on me once and a while how irresponsible I was...on many many levels. I'm almost 4 years sober.

Getting the best defence is adviseable. Do so and good luck.

 

[glenihan]

man now i'm FUCKING PISSED OFF

have you no sense of accountability at all! the most valuable lesson my old man taught me growing up was to be accountable for your actions .. everyone fucks up once in a while but for you to sit here and try to defend your actions and act like a) you did nothing wrong and b) like you are entitled to get away with what you did is not only annoying and frustrating but a slap in the face to anyone who has ever been injured or known someone who has been injured/killed by some moron on the road

you need to grow the **** up and stop acting like you don't deserve to get in trouble and like you did nothing wrong

its inexcusable to go 125mph on a public road at ANY TIME and especially after you've been drinking .. you've come up with a thousand excuses as to why its not that bad and you seem to have a "plan" as to how you can make it seem like you weren't drunk .. you do realize judges and prosecutors have heard all this BS a million and one times and they aren't gonna believe you worth a ****

you say your character took a hit because of the news article?? i don't think it took a hit .. i just think the public at large got a glimpse at the true person you really are

 

[Rictor33]

Thats cool bro... I am taking accountability for my actions, I am just telling how I will fight it if I have to. And if it goes to trial it's the jury that decides. As I previously said.. I don't appreciate the crass words and commentary so please refrain thanks..

 

[B5150]

OK...it's run it's course.

"You have the right to remain silent, anything and everything you say can and will be held against you."

 

[BingeAndPurge]

LOL, you guys trashed his rep.

I fucked up once. It changed and maybe even saved my life. I fucked up and I deal with it everyday. Defending yourself with all you've got is one thing, going about it with arrogance isn't going to score you points with anybody. I could have went after the cops for sticking and tazering me while I was chained to a gurney, but I played my part in all of that and the cops didn't pursue any charges against me either. I went to appearances my lawyer could have showed up alone to. I wore a tie and watched jack-asses show up in warm-ups and consturction gear. The judge even thanked me one day for showing up and dressing appropriately.

I even ran into the DA who had my case at the gym once and we talked for a few minutes before I realized who he was. I didn't know he had my case and eplained to him how I had messed up. He asked if the matter had been resolved yet and I told him I wasn't sure what was going on with it. I didn't try to sound innocent, I just explained that I had fucked up and wanted it all to be over. After that, he quit playing hardball and came up with a reasonable agreement.

You're not going to get anywhere playing like the cops screwed you. An officer's word is gold compared to a drunk doing 125. They didn't make you piss or offer the blood test because refusing to blow is admitting guilt. By the time they take you back and get those tests your BAL is lower, so why should they take the chance when you refused to blow already? Don't get excited about your lawyer knowing the DA. The lawyers, judges, and DA's all know eachother.

"I think with the **** I can pull and the hell I can make this that they should take the plea for dwai." This is the douchebag statement of the year. Unless your daddy is a senator or something, you're in for a rude awakening with this attitude.

 

[Rictor33]

hehe kewl guys..... Thanks for the experiences and feedback.. Could a mod please close this thread now..

 

[B5150]

Sure.